Pywell vincent



P. VINCENT.

SHADE AND CURTAIN HOLDING DEVICE.

(No Model 5 Patented July 6, 1897.

alf/3m- UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

PYIVELL VINCENT, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE E. T. BURRO WES COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,991, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed January 26 l 8 9 7.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, PYvvELL VINCENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shade and Curtain Holding Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in shade and curtain holding devices, and more particularly to that class of. devices wherein spring-pressed friction pads or tips are employed, the same being carried by a tube located at the lower edge of the shade; and it consists, primarily, in a construction so arranged that when the shade-stick is tilted the friction by which the curtain is held in its adjusted position is instantly removed and the shade permitted to move either up or down with ease.

To this end the invention consists, generally speaking, in providing a head with a tiltable friction block or pad and associating therewith antifriction devices.

I-Ieretofore fixtures of this class have been formed with oblong boxes in which are secured friction blocks or pads of either leather or rubber, and above and below the pads rollers or antifriction-surfaces are placed, so that upon tilting the stick to a considerable extent the friction-surface will be released from contact with the casing and the pressure transferred to the rolls or antifriction devices. The purpose of such a structure was to permit the stick to be righted by the spring of the shade-roller after it had been tilted. Owing to the construction of such devices, it is necessary to tilt the stick to a considerable extent before the friction holding-pads are released from their hold on the casing.

My invention is designed not only for permitting the stick to right itself or tov be righted by the shade-springs after it has been tilted, but also to permit of the release of the friction upon a slight tilting of the stick, so that any position thereof other than a perfectly horizontal position or one parallel with the shade-roller will release the friction and Serial No. 620,808. (No model.)

permit the shade to be moved up or down ease.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred form of my device, I desire it understood that the form and special arrangement of parts can be altered and changed'without departing from the principle of my invention.

' In the drawings, Figure lis an elevation of the improvement attached toacurtain. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly-modified form. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation of one of the boxes and a portion of a tube; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the boxes, showing in dotted lines its various positions.

In the drawings, A designates the curtain, which is carried by the usual roll, the spring of which has a constant tendency to wind the curtain up.

At the base or lower edge of the curtain is a pocket carrying a tube B, in which are located the usual spring-actuated rods C. Vhile the inner ends of these rods are usually connected to pendants, as c, Fig. 2, yet in the present construction I have found it unnecessary, although they may be used when desired.

To the outerends of the rods C are adjustably secured the Shanks or pins D, preferably by -a threaded connection, as at d.

The Shanks D carry the T-heads E and pass through a central aperture in the rear wall of the boxes F, the T-heads resting against and extending across the inner face of the rear of the box, reinforcing and strengthening the same, and are there secured by rivets f or in any other desirable manner.

The boxes F are preferably formed of sheet metal having parallel sides, between the upper and lower ends of which are j ournaled the antifriction-rolls Cr, the peripheries of which project slightly beyond the plane of the edges of the sides.

Mounted loosely on a shaft or pin h, located in the sides centrally between the ends of the box and in line with the axis of the shank, is the oblong shoe H, which has a flat contacting or friction face, while its rear is curved or inclined from its center to its ends, so that with IOO

the shoe will have a free tilting movement. The outer or friction face of the shoe, when wholly of metal or with a metallic contacting` face affords a very satisfactory friction block or shoe and holds the curtain against the pull of the roller-spring.

From the construction above described it will be seen that the pressure of the springs of the spindles or rods C is through the pivot:

h, and that when the stick is horizontal or at right angles to the casing the pressure will of.`

necessity be equally distributed throughout the contacting surface of the shoe. Should, however, the stick be but slightly tilted, the outwardlyfthrusting pressure of the spring will be immediately transferred to the antifriction-rolls, the shoe tilting and remaining loose in the box. This pivoted feature of the shoe I regard as of great importance, inas`` much as the shoe is instantly removed from. frictional Contact with the casing upon the` slightest tilt of the stick and thereby rendered wholly ineffectual as a holding meansI As soon as the stickly is tilted, the antifriction-rolls being brought into contact with the casing, the spring of thei roller will immediately assist the operator in;l raising the shade, and this without binding or cramping, as would be the case were the while the stick is tilted.

stick tilted'to a greater angle.

pivotally securing the same in place.

In the actuation of the shades in the majority of cases the stick is grasped on either side of the center, in which case the stick will be more or less tilted. In Fig. 2 I have shown the device equipped with the ordinary pinchhandles, so that should the operator desire to use the same the friction can readily be withdrawn thereby and the shade raised or lowered from the central point. In case, however, that the handles are not used, by grasping the stick centrally it can be raised or lowered, the metal shoes sliding on the frame.

In uniting the box and its shank with the rods C in the manner specified a rotary movement of the stick is permitted and the boXes or shoes can be adjusted in or out to suit different widths of frames.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a shade-holding device, the combination with a shade-stick, of boxes at ythe'ends thereof, antifriction-surfaces at or near the ends of the boxes, shoes pi'votally supported in the yboxes between the antifriction-surface and a spring or springs for pressing the shoes outward, substantially as described.

2. In a shade-holding device, the combination with a stick, of `pivoted friction-shoes at the ends of the stick, means for 'forcing the shoes outward, and antifriction means above and below the shoes, substantially as described.

3. In a shadeholding device, the combination with a stick, of oblong friction-shoes pivotally supported and carried by the stick,an tifriction devices above and below the pivotal plane of the shoes, andmeans forforcing the shoes outwardly.

In testimony whereof I aflix xny signature f in presence of two witnesses.

VVhileI have shown the shoe as mounted on' la'shaft, it is to be understood that any of the` mechanical equivalents may be employed for;

IYW'ELL VINCENT.

NVitnesscs:

HERBERT `W. RoniNsoN, E. A. STERLING. 

